Friends of the Court Arizona Spring Fling 2025

The Friends of the Court Arizona Spring Fling 2025, brought together community members, legal professionals, and advocates to celebrate the successes of alternative court programs, such as local Veterans’ Courts and Community Courts. These programs provide compassionate, holistic solutions to individuals involved in the criminal justice system, offering legal support and social services to help them regain independence and rebuild their lives.

Among the inspiring speakers were Judge Nicholas DiPiazza and Judge Umayok Novell, who spoke passionately about the vital work in their courts. Judge DiPiazza, from the West Valley Regional Veterans’ Court and the City of Glendale Court, highlighted the unique challenges faced by those who have served. Regarding Vietnam Veterans, he said, “They did things that people shouldn’t have to do and saw things that people shouldn’t have to see,” underscoring the importance of providing veterans with support to address burdens, such as addiction, mental health issues, or reintegration. A veteran himself, Judge DiPiazza emphasized that Veterans’ Court helps participants face their problems with tailored programs and a collaborative team. “Although it’s not in the news every day, we have people overseas right now, and many of them are in warzones, and many of them are at risk,” he said. “All of them come home with burdens. Burdens that we may not see.” The goal of Veterans’ Court is to resolve cases while addressing the root causes of criminal behavior, offering participants an opportunity to move forward meaningfully.

Judge Novell, who presides over Mesa Community Court, spoke about the innovative efforts aimed at breaking an individual’s cycle of homelessness, addiction, and legal involvement. Created in 2018, the court was designed to address concerns that the traditional justice system was not yielding lasting results for the unhoused population. Unlike the “arrest, book, release, repeat” cycle, the Community Court helps individuals resolve pending cases while accessing crucial services such as shelter, mental health treatment, substance abuse help, and workforce support. Judge Novell emphasized that “courts can empower and move people to be their very best, especially in our treatment courts, our problem-solving courts.” She believes in seeing people for who they can become, not just who they are in the moment.

The Mesa Community Court follows a collaborative approach with prosecutors, public defenders, peer navigators, and community organizations to help participants regain stability. The court also helps individuals achieve personal goals, like completing a GED or enrolling in a college program, benefiting not only the participants but the community by raising them up them from a cycle of arrest into contributing members of society. The event also featured powerful testimonials from graduates of both courts. Many graduates, now employed and reunited with their families, shared how these programs had given them the tools to turn their lives around. Their experiences were a powerful reminder of the courts’ transformative impact. The Spring Fling was both a celebration of progress and a look ahead, as more lives are positively impacted by Arizona’s innovative problem-solving courts. Through programs like Veterans’ Court and Community Court, the state proves that with the right support, individuals have a chance to overcome the challenges of homelessness, addiction, and legal trouble— and contribute meaningfully to their communities. For more information and future events, visit azfriendsofthecourt.org